Public Statements

Meadows Votes to Fund Vital Government Functions During Shutdowns

Statement

Representative Mark Meadows (NC-11) released the following statement regarding the House's efforts to minimize the impact of the government shutdown on the American people despite continued opposition by Senate Democrats and President Obama.

"The House has now passed 10 bills to fund vital government functions including veterans services, lifesaving cancer research at the National Institutes of Health, pay for the National Guard and reserve forces, national parks, disaster relief, food for mothers and children in need, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Head Start program," Meadows said. "Unfortunately, the Senate has refused to consider any of these measures to minimize the impact of the shutdown on the American people. While these bills sit idly on Harry Reid's desk, the House's invitation for a formal conference to negotiate has also been ignored by the Senate.

"Yesterday, the House made yet another good faith effort to bring the Senate to the table by voting to create a bipartisan House-Senate negotiating team to resolve differences regarding the debt limit and get the government reopened. Within hours of the proposal coming to light, Democrats and President Obama came out in opposition. How can we reopen government when Democrats continue to refuse all opportunities to talk?

"My House colleagues and I have also passed legislation to provide back pay for furloughed federal employees once the shutdown ends and a bill to make sure workers still on the job are paid on time. I am hopeful Harry Reid will not deny workers a paycheck simply to avoid sitting down at a table with Republicans and negotiating on these matters.

"Today, the House is taking action to fund death benefits for families of fallen soldiers. The families of our military men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice deserve nothing less. This should be an area of common ground for the House and Senate to come together and start talking."